Institute of Contemporary Arts

Is Emmy really the great? Of course she is, but upstaged tonight by a new kid in town.

A rock'n'roll rabble at the ICA, with a band who echo the spirit of The Pogues.

A performance to make the audience want to put Esser in a real headlock.

Another product of the hype machine, or really the 'next big thing'?

The band of the moment don't disappoint with a mature, storming set…..

An evening of eclectic sounds, visuals, and song covers, with the real gems emerging from the supporting acts.

"Then Hypnotic Brass Ensemble bounced energetically onto the stage and everyone went nuts."

"Devotchka got the whole audience clapping, stamping, singing and skanking before dropping their epic ‘How it Ends' to raucous delight."

"The drama and urgency they possess on the stage is something."

"Nightclub was in full swing by now as the fusion of the music, visuals and performances blended with the crowd to create a lovely melee and it was only 1:30am!"

"Tambourines were circulated around the audience and soon the sound seemed to be coming from every direction as people caught on to the savage, ritualistic vibe and beat their tambourine as if in a trance."

"We're riding the Milky Way and leaving a trail of beer cans, party scrapes, sweat and tears behind."

"Almost every song ended with an Elvisesque, "Thank you very much," as Dear exuded the essence of the rock star in all of its glory and none of its conceit."

"Confidence, real attitude, kazoo solos and some very hot dance moves, Lykke Li threw herself into the performance with such heartfelt emotion and the crowd responded with great spirit."

"It looked like it was to be a busy evening as both bar and exhibition were buzzing with people, grabbing a drink and the chance to take in the late night opening of Cellar Door."

"Having been away for six years life as a Notwist fan has been relatively quiet, so tonight is like therapy to let it all out and no ones holding back."

"Mechanical patterns became rhythmical loops as did clicks and beeps as layers of fuzz drifted overhead."

"Messy, drawled vocals slurred over the top added a real flavour as the crowd got stuck into the skank-out friendly instrumentals"

"Working together in unison to create potent rhythms of free flowing sax entwined with pounding drums before riffing off one another with ease."

"The music dipped and soared, full of short, sharp bursts and mini crescendos with Gustafsson bobbing and weaving like Ali in his prime as both men put their all into a vibrant performance."

"Gradually joined on stage by his band, Patrice launched into a rhythm heavy, bass bumping, reggae-tinged set that had both energy and depth."

"Driving and spinning, their material was full of psychedelic quirks and free-minded compositions along with some heavyweight lyrics."

"Sometimes an abstract, building, beat-less atmosphere, other times a bass heavy hip hop-style instrumental and everything in between, the performance was absolutely absorbing."

"Talbot's bluesy folk guitar sent mellow vibes across the room as couples joined hands and a gentle sway ensued." 

"As the mammoth set drew to a close Gonzales once more took to the crowd, climbing onto some shoulders and being carried back to the stage like some sort of sweaty deity."

"Fanfarlo's charm lay as much in their relaxed, fun attitude as it did in their material."

"Lady Luck has been kind to the ICA's Quiet Night's season, bestowing upon it a dedicated crowd, a beautiful setting and most importantly, a great programme of bands each and every week."

"Tonight was more polished (better sound, nice lighting) but the songs were still powerful chunks of unreconstructed our-kid rock’n’roll."

"Opening with dreamy layers of guitar tones and riffs, sampled then looped, he built an atmosphere in the room that gathered our attention and gently guided and coaxed us into his set."

"Performing their acoustic sets were the fantastic F.Lunaire and marvellous Plaster of Paris, and having caught a bit of their soundchecks I knew the crowd were in for a treat."

"Stopping, starting and changing, there was a certain drama to their performance that gave it an epic, exuberant feel without ever slipping into self indulgency."

"The recommendations have been coming thick and fast for the Jacksonville quintet and the levels of expectancy were high as they arrived on stage to cheers and whistles."

"There’s something remarkably organic and unpretentious about Yeasayer. Their sound combines a humbling sense of concentrated precision and nervous energy"

"As you can probably imagine, absolute madness ensued as the stage became a frenetic epicentre of rhythm and song." 

"This is not just music to listen to, but an invitation to live a rockstar lifestyle from times gone by."

"With little to no chatter between songs, The Kills' set was fast and furious"

"Who said there was no longer any steel in Wales?"

"This was to be his first headlining set in London and by the looks of things, no punches would be pulled."

"Pop melodies, programmed drum beats, electro synth parts and vocoder vocals followed by luscious ballads and orgasmic guitar solos."

"TRR's infectious German geekiness had taken over the crowd and turned head nods into foot taps and more."

"Gripped by the dreamy quality, only to be sent into folk ecstacy by violin riffs and shuffling drums"

"Distorted drones, resonating bass swoops and glitchy synth parts develop the impending primordial tension as vocals shriek and scream with startling urgency"

Reviews and photos of the ICA's music programme by the ICA Music team.